After defeating Pomona-Pitzer College 77-62 on Dec. 9, the women’s basketball team improves to an 8-3 overall record. The Eagles currently rank second in Golden State Athletic Conference standings.
The Eagles have made significant progress this season in comparison to last year when the women lost 11 straight games and sat at the bottom of the GSAC polls. The women have become a more rounded team, spreading the points out to the wings instead of the inside.
“Compared to last year when we were a more post dominated team,” junior guard Annie Park said, “And this year we have good guards, good posts, and a deep bench, but as far as what we are working on staying mentally focused.”
Senior forward Chelsea Hill reached 1,000 points in her collegiate career in the game against Pomona-Pitzer. Park had the most points for Biola with 19 and fellow junior guard Aubree Mittel brought in 18 points for Biola. Park also led the team with eight assists.
The Eagles will face Arizona Christian University on Dec. 13 for their third conference game of the season. Biola defeated the Firestorm 66-49 and 65-55. Currently, Arizona Christian stand 2-9 overall and seventh in conference rankings.
“We just need to come out with an intensity and not think about their record,” Mittel said. “[We need to] play our game and do what we do well and not play down to their level so we can come out with a win.”
The women remain focused on their goal of winning the GSAC championship. The last time Biola made to the GSAC finals was 2012.
“Our goal definitely is to win GSAC and if not make it to nationals and be one of the top teams.” said Mittel. “To go about that we have to keep working on our game as a team, in practice and by ourselves in the gym and working on things that we don’t do as well. So we can be the best that we can possibly be.”
Winning GSAC and competing in the NAIA Championship will not prove an easy feat for the Eagles. Their toughest competition will be Vanguard University and Concordia University. The Eagles will have to tighten up their defense even more and improve their shooting percentage.
“We want to go to nationals, and to do that we have to knock out strong teams like Vanguard and Concordia. So we will have to beat them in order to go to nationals,” Park said. “Our focus is playing our game, regardless of who our opponent is.”
